Ends Today! A Limited Time Offer On My Favorite Airline Mileage Card; How To Take Advantage Of United’s Most Generous Awards

Update: This card now offers 40,000 bonus miles for spending $2,000 and an additional 5,000 miles for opening a free additional user card and making 1 purchase on that card in the first 3 months.

Originally posted on 7/15:

Until 8/15, you can earn 40,000 bonus miles and a $100 statement credit for opening a Chase United Explorer card and spending $2,000 within 3 months plus you can receive an additional 5,000 miles for opening a free additional user card and making 1 purchase on that card in the first 3 months. The additional cardholder bonus bumps the 40K bonus up to 45K. The $95 annual fee is also waived for the first year with this offer.

Click Hereto get more details on this card and compare to other travel cards!

You can receive the bonus on this card if you haven’t received a bonus on this card in the past 24 months and don’t currently have this card.

Cardholders with United elite status get free upgrades on coach award tickets on upgrade eligible routes.

If you spend $25K/year on the card it waives the requirement to spend $3K on United flights to get Silver status, $6K on United flights to get Gold status, and $9K on United flights to get Platinum status. You only need to fly the 25K, 50K, or 75K miles like in the good old days.

The reason this card is the best airline card you can get isn’t for the spending benefits, it’s for the perks. And they are awesome.

The reason this is my favorite airline card is that the United card is the only airline card that offers expanded award ticket availability.

It’s not just slightly expanded. There is a world of difference between the availability that cardholders can access and the availability for non-cardholders.

Availability calendar for non-cardholders:

Availability calendar for cardholders:

Let’s say you want to fly from Newark to Tel Aviv from January 27-February 7.

If you’re a cardholder and are logged in on United, you’ll pay 85K miles:

If you’re not a cardholder you’ll pay 132.5K miles:

If you have read the United Expert Mode post, you know that’s because United is willing to sell at least 9 saver award seats in XN class to cardholders (XN9), but there are no seats in X class for saver award for non-cardholders on those flights (X0):

This availability differential applies to all domestic and international routes and makes it crucial to be a United cardholders.

As you have better access to saver coach awards you’ll also have better ability to do Plan B awards. Plan B allows you to redeem for saver business and first class awards when there’s only saver coach available. Read more about Plan B in this post.

No airline besides United offers a Plan B redemption.

In general I’m a big fan of United miles as they’re part of the Star Alliance, which has the best award availability of any airline alliance.

Best of all, United never charges any fuel surcharges. Other airlines like American collect massive fuel surcharges to fly on British Airways. Delta charges fuel surcharges to fly on some partners and if you originate in Europe and other regions. United will never collect a fuel surcharge and they have access to awards on 36 partner airlines which means better availability on more awards.

A short-haul United domestic award under 700 miles in distance is just 10,000 miles. That’s more than the BA 7.5K short-haul, but availability is much better, it allows for a longer flight distance, and you are allowed to have connections for the same rate, something that BA doesn’t allow.

United is also the only major US carrier that caps the mileage rate for standard awards at a reasonable rate. For example if you want to fly nonstop from NYC to LA on this Wednesday in business class there are 5 airlines to choose from:

American charges 82.5K-97.5K miles with their variable standard award pricing:

Delta charges 142.5K-152.5K miles with their variable standard award pricing:

All JetBlue award pricing is variable and they want 81K-152.4K miles:

All Virgin America award pricing is variable as well. They charge 70K miles. Alaska is the only airline flying nonstop between NYC and LAX without lie-flat seating in business class.

With United there is a saver award for 32.5K. Those come and go, but the standard awards on United are just 50K-60K on this route. That’s significantly less than other airlines. Best of all, cardholders can book a standard award even if it’s the last coach or business seat on the plane:

A round-trip to 2 Hawaiian Islands is just 45,000 miles round-trip thanks to the free excursionist perk:

A round-trip ticket to 2 European or South American cities is just 60,000 miles round-trip thanks to the free excursionist perk:

A flight to 2 of my favorite cities in Asia, Hong Kong and Chiang Mai, Thailand is 80K miles thanks to the perk:

You’re even allowed a free open jaw in addition to the perk to really maximize your travel. For example this itinerary includes travel to London, Paris, and Zurich. You can take a train or use 4.5K BA Avios to get from London to Paris to fill the hole in the open jaw:

United has dozens of partner airlines which means lots of great award opportunities. It can be worth checking for award space on partner sites like ANA or Aeroplan.com to search for award availability and then call United to book if you don’t see availability on United.

Partners airlines include:

ANA

Adria Airlines

Aegean Airlines

Aer Lingus

Air Canada

Air China

Air Dolomiti

Air India

Air New Zealand

Aeromar

Asiana Airlines

Austrian Airlines

Avianca Airlines

Azul Brazilian Airlines

Brussels Airlines

Cape Air

Copa Airlines

Croatia Airlines

EVA Air

Edelweiss

Egyptair

Ethiopian Airlines

Eurowings

Germanwings

Hawaiian Airlines

Island Air

Juneyao Airlines

LOT Polish

Lufthansa

Scandinavian Airlines

Shenzhen Airlines

Silver Airways

Singapore

South African Airways

Swiss International Airlines

TAP Portugal

THAI

Turkish Airlines

Are you a United cardholder?

Click Hereto get more details on this card and compare to other business travel cards!

Does this perk (the expanded award ticket availability) apply to chase united mileage plus explorer card

Reply

July 15, 2018 1:30 pm

Dan

That’s the exact card I’m writing about…

Reply

July 15, 2018 1:32 pm

ktc

does the UA Club card have the same expanded award availability?

Reply

July 15, 2018 6:08 pm

UA

Yes

Reply

July 15, 2018 6:49 pm

edith

on united’s website they had links to THREE different offers: 40K miles + $100, 50K miles + $100, and 60K miles

Reply

July 15, 2018 1:32 pm

Dan

Those are targeted non-public offers.

Reply

July 15, 2018 1:36 pm

Jon

Think it’s worth going for the 60K offer with no AF year 1. Havent they had similar larger offers (70 or 75k) in the past?

Reply

August 15, 2018 9:53 am

DR

If you are a plat or a 1K – this card has far fewer values, other than the auction stuff or whatever. The real value of this card is for non-elite flyers. I had the explorer card and closed it after realizing it added ZERO value for me.

Reply

July 15, 2018 1:34 pm

Dan

The card still allows elites to get upgrades on awards, waive the PQD requirement, get free Global Entry, get 2 annual club passes, get 25% off WiFi/Food/Drinks, access cardmember auctions, etc.

Reply

July 15, 2018 1:37 pm

Ablack

Thanks Dan. What about the Business version of this card? How would ghe consumer and business versions of this particular card compare in terms of all the great perks you mention in this post?

Reply

July 15, 2018 1:43 pm

Chaim

I only see on the application website 40,000 miles and not 45,000. Please advise.

Reply

July 15, 2018 1:49 pm

Dan

It says 40,000 for signing up plus 5,000 for adding a free additional user=45,000.

Reply

July 15, 2018 1:51 pm

Eitan

If not happy with the card after the first year, is it necessary to close or is there a downgrade to a free alternative possible?

Reply

July 15, 2018 1:54 pm

UA

There’s a free version that you can downgrade to, that still offers expanded availability.

Reply

July 15, 2018 6:50 pm

Chaim L.

To me the business explorer card sounds exactly the same with even more benefits (price protection, 10k bonus/year) any reason I should rather sign up for personal?

Reply

July 15, 2018 1:55 pm

apl

Can do both

Reply

July 15, 2018 2:01 pm

Eitan

If not happy with this card after the free first year, would I have to close the card, or is there possibility to downgrade to a free alternative?

Reply

July 15, 2018 1:58 pm

Sam

Possible to downgrade

Reply

July 15, 2018 9:52 pm

AJ

Hi Dan, thanks for all the info! Is it better to get the personal card (45k +$100) or the business card (50k + 10k if you spend $25,000)? Can one get both? Thanks!

Reply

July 15, 2018 2:02 pm

Lm

@Dan if I make a mileage reservation with out having this card then when I fly I have it. Will I get free bags? Also if I have this card will it extend the cancellation period time over 24hrs? This is very important for me so I have time to figure out hotels in Hawaii …

Reply

July 15, 2018 2:02 pm

Avrohom

You only get the free bags if you pay for at least some of the ticket with the card and the cardholder is on the reservation. It will not extend the 24 hour cancellation period.

Reply

July 15, 2018 9:08 pm

passover

is united expanded saver award availability for cardholders work for business class or only for economy? and is there a way to access that benefit by calling up on the phone? i found that even though i do not any united cards or elite statues a rep was able to see saver award availability and book me over the phone even though it was not showing on the website? if someone can please answer this question thank you

Reply

July 15, 2018 2:03 pm

a shailah

can i sign my wife up for this card using my ffn or will that cause problems?i want it to be linked to my account because i already have prexisitng rewards there and i do not liek to many accounts opened i end up losing trak

Will Sapphire Reserve card holders also see the expanded Saver ticket options, or only the Explorer card holders?

Reply

July 15, 2018 11:23 pm

Dan

United cardholders only.

Reply

July 16, 2018 9:01 am

Josh

Is the expanded award availability different from the expanded availability offered to United elites?

Reply

July 16, 2018 8:21 am

Dan

No.

Reply

July 16, 2018 9:00 am

tkb

does this card wave the $75 fee for booking an award ticket within 21 days of the flight?
for all passengers on the reservation?

Reply

July 16, 2018 12:02 pm

Dan

No, only the $450/year Club card does that.

Reply

July 16, 2018 1:03 pm

Leah

U may want to ask your LOR (I did) but I book for my boss with more than three weeks out, then change immediately (once the tickets issued within minutes) to the date within 3 seeks and bingo, no $75 fee

Reply

August 15, 2018 12:17 pm

Leah

Weeks not seeks

Reply

August 15, 2018 12:17 pm

Francine Naor

If I already have 11000 miles with United is there a way to connect this account with the new card?

Reply

July 16, 2018 1:00 pm

Dan

Just apply with that MileagePlus number.

Reply

July 16, 2018 1:03 pm

MM

The offer has now been extended to August 15.

Reply

July 16, 2018 11:26 pm

Jay

Will a United Premier Gold member get the enhanced or expanded saver awards availability?

Reply

July 17, 2018 10:07 pm

Dan

Yes, but you would need the card to get upgrades on awards.

Reply

August 15, 2018 8:49 am

Yman

Dan or JJ,
If I was mixed up and thought the United offer was expiring in July. I also recently opened up the Chase Marriott Premier Card. I am not sure about being able to afford meeting the spending threshold for both cards. Is there a way to prevent the time from ticking on the united card until august 15th? Any other advice?

Reply

July 23, 2018 8:25 am

Shmuly

Dan, I saw this post when it was posted and, taking your word for it, signed myself and my wife up for the card immediately. Now I just read the post through completely and I’m so glad I got this card! Thanks for always looking out for us.

Reply

July 27, 2018 7:58 am

Zach

If I got the card / bonus 3 years ago and last year I downgraded to the free United card, do I qualify for the bonus again?

Reply

August 15, 2018 8:49 am

Dan

Yes.

Reply

August 15, 2018 8:49 am

David

Hi. Follow up to that. Similar case. I have this card and downgraded to stop fee years ago. A) Do I take my downgraded no fee same card (I think) from years ago and close it or does that hurt credit score. Have had it a long time.

B) I always see the expanded award availability with my explorer card, is it more expanded with this when you are paying?

Thanks!

Reply

August 15, 2018 10:40 am

MB

What’s the difference between the free version of this card and the one that has a $95 annual fee

Reply

August 15, 2018 9:12 am

moshe

Can Elite status get upgrades even on basic economy fares?

Reply

August 15, 2018 9:24 am

MM

2bm or 3bm still work with chase?

Reply

August 15, 2018 9:37 am

Tony

Whats the difference between business one and regular one? I have the business ink. Same process? Any CONs?

Reply

August 15, 2018 10:20 am

Mushka

Does the AU get the benefit of global entry too?

Reply

August 15, 2018 11:13 am

HE

Hi Dan, PLEASE ANSWER THIS,
Can I transfer miles from my wife’s United account to my United account? And how?
Thank you!!!

Reply

August 15, 2018 12:16 pm

Sam

Seconding this question

Reply

August 29, 2018 2:20 pm

Dan

Not for free.

Reply

August 29, 2018 2:25 pm

BG

Does the credit card give better award availability beyond the expanded award availability I get based on my Silver status?

Reply

August 15, 2018 12:25 pm

Me

I don’t have any Chase card, should I do a 2bm with this ? Witch card you will recommend to apply right now ?

Reply

August 15, 2018 2:39 pm

abe

will the business one stick around?

Reply

August 15, 2018 2:58 pm

RC

Can I sign my wife up and put my MileagePlus number? I already have a card under my name with my MileagePlus number connected to it.

Reply

August 15, 2018 4:35 pm

Eric

Hi Dan, I am looking into getting a new card and I am deciding between this card and the Chase Freedom Unlimited. I currently have the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Chase Freedom x2. Which do you recommend?

Reply

August 15, 2018 4:59 pm

EB

@Dan, thanks. Would you recommend getting the business and personal together? Or just one?

Reply

August 11, 2019 8:22 pm

Yitz Weiss

Dan, if my wife has a United Explorer card & we book basic economy tickets entirely using Chase points (no cost to charge to the United card), is there any way to still get the free luggage & carry one?
Thanks!

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